Arts, Beats & Eats turns up the tech

Ford Arts, Beats & Eats, presented by FirstMerit Bank and festival founder Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, has announced that the 16th annual festival is returning to Royal Oak this Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 2, with a number of new high-tech and community-focused initiatives.

“Ford Arts, Beats & Eats continues to be among Michigan’s premier summer events. Hundreds of thousands of visitors look forward to a weekend full of beautiful art, vibrant music, and delicious food,” said Patterson. “Oakland County is consistently ranked among the most digitally-advanced counties in the nation. That’s why I’m excited about the technology additions this year, especially the new platform that will help our charity partners.”

More than 60 nonprofits and community organizations will financially benefit from this year’s festival. In addition to the festival’s contributions, these organizations will have the opportunity to raise additional crowd sourced donations through CrowdRise.com. There are also a number of new and returning high-impact initiatives aimed at raising awareness and helping a wide array of organizations. Plus, Oakland County’s annual cultural showcase of artists, musicians and food will feature several new high-tech initiatives, including a smartphone application that will allow guests to carry the complete details of the festival in the palm of their hand and digital security surveillance of the entire festival footprint.

“The dedication of Ford Arts, Beats & Eats to keep innovating and updating while continuing to provide the same family-friendly weekend is to be applauded,” said Mike O’Brien, Detroit regional asles manager, Ford Motor Company. “The new smartphone application will increase convenience while the digital security initiatives will add another layer of safety for this prestigious festival.”

Advertisement

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

FirstMerit, which acquired longtime festival partner Citizens Bank earlier this year, will be the presenting sponsor for Ford Arts, Beats & Eats. And the FirstMerit Foundation is helping to further reward non-profits that raise additional dollars through the festival, by awarding $20,000 in incentives to help bring the combination of the festival’s donations to $500,000 in 2013.

Each festival volunteer is encouraged to setup a profile on the Royal Oak-based web community CrowdRise.com and raise pledges of donations for their individual charities. The more pledges that are raised, the more funds each of the charities get in addition to the festival’s donations.

“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor at Ford Arts, Beats & Eats,” said Sandy Pierce, vice chairman, FirstMerit Corporation and chairman and CEO, FirstMerit Michigan. “By supporting the powerful platform of crowd-sourced funding through a local company like CrowdRise.com, we are happy to help expand the potential for raising funds and doing good in the community. We cannot think of a better tool to extend the already significant charitable impact of the festival and empower nonprofit partners and visitors alike.”

IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

This year, festivalgoers will have access to all of the information for the delicious food, rocking beats and beautiful art in the palm of their hand. With the official Ford Arts, Beats & Eats smartphone application, guests can customize their festival experience through a number of consumer-friendly features. Users can receive personalized push notifications for events such as music stage performance schedules and a lineup of special programs. Plus, throughout the weekend, guests can enter to win exclusive giveaways through the mobile platform, such as a VIP tickets and special access to concerts and other festival freebies. Users can also participate in games like trivia and a scavenger hunt.

“We are very excited to release a dedicated application for this year’s Ford Arts, Beats & Eats,” said festival producerJonathan Witz. “With a user-friendly interface, visitors can customize every aspect of the entertainment experience and make sure they get to every restaurant, artists’ booth and music performance they have on their to-do list all festival long.”

The application will be available for download starting in early August, from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

DIGITAL SURVELLIANCE

Festival organizers have always worked closely with Royal Oak law enforcement and been proactive when it comes to guest and vendor security. While recent Ford Arts, Beats & Eats have come and gone without major incidents, large-scale events around the globe have seen increased security efforts in light of the events at this year’s Boston Marathon.

Oakland County’s largest cultural event is no different. In addition to the comprehensive on-the-ground security provided at all previous Ford Arts, Beats & Eats, this year, Farmington Hills-based security company SECURATECH will provide around-the-clock digital video surveillance during the entire festival.

The team at SECURATECH is taking an innovative approach to help the festival. The security company is able to deliver hi-definition surveillance video of the festival in a way that complements both the private security and public law enforcement efforts that have made prior years so safe and successful.

“While we are not able to discuss the details of the security plan for obvious reasons, we can say that SECURATECH is providing the organizers with a video archive of virtually every vendor and guest that attends the festival,” said Rudy Patros, president of SECURATECH. “On top of the substantial active security efforts, this year’s Ford Arts, Beats & Eats will have a passive system that can provide important information as needed. Another great aspect to what SECURATECH is doing is that it won’t impact festival-goers or their experience, it all will be executed 100 percent behind the scenes.”

SPONSORS, CITY EXTEND PARTNERSHIPS

Key sponsors and long-term partnerships continue to be one of the many pillars of success for Ford Arts, Beats & Eats.

Leading the way, Ford and their Southeast Michigan Ford Dealers, agreed to continue as title sponsor through 2015 and will again offer unique vehicle exhibits, test drives, and fund a festival poster contest. In addition, longtime sponsor, Pepsi, which has been sponsoring the festival since its debut in 1998, has also extended its role to support the festival financially and provide all non-alcoholic beverages for four more years through 2016.

In addition, the Royal Oak City Commission and its Downtown Development Authority recently voted to extend its agreement with the festival through 2017, and in doing so, both parties agreed not to raise admission and parking fees for the duration of agreement.

“Ford Arts, Beats & Eats is one of the highlights of the year in Royal Oak,” said Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison. “Having the hundreds of thousands of guests from all over the region visit our streets and get a firsthand experience of the great retail stores and entertainment that Royal Oak has to offer provides an economic boost that is felt year round.”

FITNESS RUN ADDED

On Saturday morning, Aug. 31, the streets of Royal Oak will be filled with hundreds of runners for the Priority Health Arts in Motion runs and walk benefitting Michigan Youth Arts new non-profit partner Rock CF, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis. Last year’s 5K was so popular that this year the event also will feature a 10k and a walk option for entrants. The updated route will improve on the success of last year’s downtown Royal Oak route and will again incorporate performers and artists from Michigan Youth Arts throughout the course to cheer on runners and walker.

“Priority Health is pleased to partner with Ford Arts, Beats & Eats once again to bring healthy, family-friendly activities to event this year,” said Don Whitford, vice president of the East Region Market for Priority Health. “With our sponsorship of the Zumba event and the Run/Walk we are able to highlight the importance of healthy living within the community in a creative and fun way while benefiting important causes like the Barbara Karmanos Cancer Institute, the Michigan Youth Arts Council and Rock CF.”

ARTS DU JOUR CHARITY PREVIEW

Arts du Jour, the charity preview event for Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort & Beaumont Hospital, is returning this year with a new location and updated offerings. Arts du Jour will take place outside the Royal Oak Library and City Hall at the Barbara A. Hallman Memorial Plaza in downtown Royal Oak. The event will take place from 6-10 on Thursday, Aug. 22, and will feature over 50 restaurants, a preview of the Juried Fine Art Show, and eclectic musical performances throughout the evening. Patrons who take advantage of the new VIP ticket package will be treated to a mixology competition featuring bartenders from Tom’s Oyster Bar, 5th Avenue, Pizzeria Biga and Hamlin Corner. Tickets are $100 for VIP Access and $65 for general admission and will be available online at www.artsdujour.org. 75 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit each guest’s choice of 10 metro Detroit nonprofits.